Upholstery construction



Jul 29, 1941. A. M. BANK 2,251,103

- UPHOLSTERY CONSTRUCTION Filed June 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1PIC-21.1". M

INVENTOR.

J o By ALBERT M. BAA/K .@&n, W ATTORNEY.

July 29, 1941. A. M. BANK 2,251,103

UPHOLSTERY CONSTRUCTION Filed June 2' 7, 1938' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I,INVENTOR.

ALBERT M. 541% ATTORNEY.

Patented July 29, 1941 UPHOLSTERY CONSTRUCTION Albert M. Bank, JerseyCity, N. J., assignor to Sylvia Bank, Jersey City, N. J.

Application June 27, 1938, Serial No. 216,081

Claims.

This invention relates to upholstery construction, and is particularlydirected to upholstered chairs or sofas provided with a one piecewebbing and improved means to support the webbing.

An object of this invention is to provide a highly improved strong anddurable support for a one piece webbing, which shall be relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, easy to apply, and yet practical andefficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown various possibleillustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a chair frame provided with webbingsupporting means embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modifiedconstruction;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig, 6 is a perspective view of one of the straps for mounting the coiltension springs;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the brackets shown in Figs. 4 and5; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational, cross-sectional view through a portion of aseat provided with webbing support embodying the invention, andillustrating a modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Ill designates an upholsteredchair provided with web supporting means embodying the invention. Thechair Ill comprises a frame I I having a front wall l2, a rear wall l3,side walls M, and legs l5. The chair may be provided with a back Q8 ofany suitable construction.

Attached to the bottom edges of the frame walls l2, l3 and Hi, is aone-piece flexible webbing 20, made of burlap or any other suitablematerial. The webbing is attached at substantially its entire margin tothe bottom edges of the walls l2, l3 and I4.

Mounted on the webbing 20 are a plurality of rows of foundation springs2 I, interconnected and the frame.

attached to the frame H, by the usual tie cords 23. The foundationsprings may be covered in accordance with usual upholstery practice.

Improved means is provided to aid in supporting weight imposed upon thefoundation springs, to prevent sagging of the webbing and for relievingtension from the fastening means which attach the webbing to the frame,so as to prevent the attaching means from being torn away from To thisend, there is provided a member 25 preferably made of a single piece ofround wire stock and contacting the underside of the webbing and spacedfrom the walls I2, l3 and M of the frame. Said member 25 comprises apair of parallel portions 26, parallel to the side walls M of the frame,and a portion 2i parallel to the rear wall l3. Said portion 21 ispreferably located closer to the rear wall I3 than to the front wall l2of the frame. Said portions 26 of the member 25 are each formed,adjacent the ends thereof, with a pair of upwardly extending offsetportions 29 and 3t piercing the webbing. Interposed between saidportions 25 and the webbing 29, are washers 29a and 3%, receiving theoffset portions 29 and 38 respectively. The distance between the offsetportions 28 and the front wall l2-is preferably substantially equal tothe distance between offset portions 38 and the rear wall I3 of theframe.

Means is provided for yieldingly interconnecting the offset portions 29and 38 with the front and rear walls of the frame. To this end, there isattached to each of the front and rear walls of the frame, a pair ofsimilar straps $2, aligned with portions 26 of member 25. Each strap ispreferably made from a single piece of elongated, flat, thin, easilybendable metal. The strap members 32 may be readily bent to the shapeshown in the drawings.

As shown in the drawings, each strap member 32 comprises a verticalportion 36 contacting the outer surface of the frame wall, a horizontalportion 35 extending from the front portion 34 and contacting the topedge of the frame wall, and a portion 36 extending from said top portionand inclined downwardly toward the adjacent ofi'set portion 29 or 30.The strap member 32 may be formed with a plurality of spaced openings 38to receive nails or other fastening members 50, driven into the outerand top surface of the frame wall to attach the strap to the wall. Theinner end of portion 36 of each strap member is formed with an opening42. Said straps are interconnected to the adjacent offset portions bycoil tension springs 45. One end of each spring engages one of theoffsets, and the other end engages within the opening B2 of the strap32.

It will now be understood that the webbing is yieldingly supported toaid in supporting weight imposed on the foundation springs, and toprevent sagging of the webbing, and to prevent tearing away of thefastening means which attach the webbing to the frame.

The strap members 32 may be attached to the frame walls in variousadjusted positions depending upon the depth of the frame. The fasteningnails 4!! may be driven through any of the openings 33, and the strapmember may be bent into the shape shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of thedrawings, producing portions 36 of greater or less length to suit thesize of the frame In Figs. 4, 5 and 7 there is illustrated a modifiedform of the invention. In said figures, the webbing 29 is supported by amember 5?}, likewise made of a single piece of round wire stock. Saidmember 59 has parallel portions 5i contacting the underside of thewebbing and disposed parallel to the side walls [4 of the frame.Portions 5| are interconnected by a portion 52, parallel and adjacent tothe rear wall l3 of the frame. Said portions 5| are each formed,adjacent the portion 52, with an upwardly extending offset portion 53piercing the Webbing. .A washer 54 received on the offset 53 of eachportion 51, is interposed between the webbing and said portion 5| ofmember 59.

Extending upwardly from the forward ends of portions 5| are upwardlyinclined integral. portions 56, connected at their upper ends tobrackets 51 attached to the upper edges of the front wall I2. The upperends of portions 53 may merely be looped through the brackets to makethe connection.

In Fig. 8 there is shown another modified form of the invention. In Fig,8, the seat frame is provided with a one piece webbing fixed to theunderedge of the frame. For the. purpose of supporting the webbing,there is provided a member 6|, similar to the member 5'9, shown in Figs.4 and 5, similarly supported at one end by a pair of springs 4-5. "Theside portions of the member El, however, extend substantially to thefront wall l2, being provided with upwardly extending portions filapiercing the webbing adjacent the front wall.

Attached to the front edge of the front wall l2, are a pair of spacedparallel brackets 63 having portions 530. disposed beneath the webbingand extending inwardly of the front wall and formed with openings toreceive the portions fila of the member 6|. The brackets 53 may beattached to the frame by nails 6?.

Attached to the upper edge of the front wall, are a pair of brackets 54fixed to said wall by nails 65, and having portions 65 extendinginwardly of said front wall and formed with openings to receive theupper ends of portions Sic which are looped downwardly, as at 62.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In upholstery construction, a frame having front, rear and sidewalls, a one piece flexible webbing attached at the margin thereof tothe underedges of said frame walls, foundation springs on said webbing,and means for supporting said webbing comprising three sided U- shapedmember made of a single piece of wire and having parallel portionscontacting the underside of the webbing and disposed parallel to theside walls of the frame, and a portion interconnecting said parallelportions and disposed parallel to the rear Wall of the frame, saidparallel portions having upwardly extending offset portions piercing thewebbing, and resilient means interconnecting said offset portions withthe upper portions of the rear frame walls, and disposed in parallelplanes passing through said parallel portions, and perpendicular to saidinterconnecting portion, and means to connect the free ends of saidparallel portions to the front wall.

2. In upholstery construction, a frame having front, rear and sidewalls, a one piece flexible webbing attached at the margin thereof tothe underedges of said walls, means for supporting said Webbingcomprising a three sided member made of a single piece of wire andhaving parallel portions contacting the underside of said webbing anddisposed-parallel to the side walls of the frame, and a portion.interconnecting said parallel portions and contacting the underside ofsaid webbing and disposed parallel to the rear wall, said parallelportions being formed adjacent the ends thereof with upwardly extendingoffsets piercing the webbing, a pair of strap members attached to eachof the front and rear walls, and coil tension springs interconnectingsaid strap members with said offset portions, said strap members andsaid springs being disposed in parallel planes perpendicular to saidinterconnecting portion.

3. In upholstery construction, a frame having a front, rear and sidewalls, a one piece flexible webbing attached at the margin thereof tothe underedges of said walls, means for supporting said webbingcomprising a member made of a single piece of wire and having parallelportions contacting the underside of said webbing and disposed parallelto the side walls of the frame, and a portion interconnecting saidparallel portions contacting the underside of said webbing and disposedparallel to the rear wall, said parallel portions of said member beingformed adjacent said interconnecting portion, with upwardly extendingoffsets piercing the webbing, a pair of strap members attached :to therear wall of said frame, coil tension springs interconnecting said strapmembers with said offset portions, a pair of brackets on the front wallof said frame, said first mentioned member having portions extendingfrom said parallel portions piercing the webbing and inclined upwardlytoward the upper edge of said front wall and engaging said brackets.

4. In upholstery construction, means for supporting the webbing of aseat frame, comprising a U-shaped member made of a single piece of wireadapted to contact the underside of the Webbing and having a pair ofparallel portions, and a portion interconnecting said parallel portions,said parallel portions each being formed adjacent the ends thereof withoffsets, bracket members adapted to be attached to the upper edges ofthe seat frame, and coil springs interconnecting said offsets with saidbrackets, said brackets and springs being disposed in parallel planespassing through said parallel portions and perpendicular to saidinterconnecting portion.

5, In upholstery construction, a frame having front, rear and sidewalls, webbing attached to the underedges of said frame walls,foundation springs on said webbing, and means for supporting saidwebbing comprising an elongated U- shaped member made of a single pieceof wire and having parallel portions contacting the underside of thewebbing, a portion interconnecting said parallel portions, said parallelportions having upwardly extending offset portions adjacent saidinterconnecting portion, piercing the Webbing, spring meansinterconnecting said offset portions with the upper portion of a wall ofsaid frame, said spring means being disposed in parallel planes passingthrough said parallel portions and perpendicular to said interconnectingportion, and means for interconnecting the outer ends of said parallelportions to an opposite wall of said frame.

6. In upholstery construction, a seat frame having front, rear and sidewalls, a webbing attached to the underedges of said frame walls, meansfor supporting said webbing, comprising a member made of a singleelongated piece of wire and having parallel portions contacting theunderside of said webbing, and a portion interconnecting said parallelportions and contacting the underside of said webbing, said parallelportions having offsets adjacent said interconnecting portion extendingthrough the webbing, springs interconnecting said offsets with the upperedge of a wall of said frame, brackets on the opposite wall of saidframe, the outer ends of said parallel portions being looped throughsaid brackets.

'7. In upholstery construction, a seat frame having front, rear and sidewalls, a one piece flexible webbing attached to the underedges of saidframe walls, means for supporting said webbing, comprising a member madeof a single elongated piece of wire, and having parallel portionscontacting the underside of the webbing, and a portion interconnectingsaid parallel portions and contacting the underside of the webbing, saidparallel portions having offsets adjacent said interconnecting portion,extending through the webbing, springs interconnecting said offsets withthe upper edge of a wall of said frame, a pair of brackets at the upperedge of an opposite wall of said frame, and a pair of brackets at thelower edges of said opposite wall of said frame, the outer ends of saidparallel port ons extending through the brackets at the lower edge ofsaid opposite wall and extending upwardly through the webbing andadjacent the inner surface of said opposite wall, and passing throughthe brackets at the upper edge of said opposite wall.

8. In upholstery construction, a seat frame having a pair of parallelside walls, a front wall, and a rear wall, a one piece flexible Webbingattached at substantially its entire margin to the underedges of saidwalls, a'member beneath said webbing having parallel portions disposedparallel to the side walls of the frame, and a portion interconnectingsaid parallel portions disposed adjacent the rear wall of said frame,and parallel thereto, a pair of springs interconnecting said member withthe rear wall of said frame, a pair of brackets at the upper edge of thefront wall of the frame, and a pair of brackets at the lower edge of thefront wall of said frame, the forward ends of said parallel portionspassing through the brackets at the lower edge of said frame, andupwardly through the Webbing, and adjacent the inner surface of saidfront wall, and through the brackets at the upper edge of said-frontWall.

9. In upholstery construction, a seat frame having front, rear and sidewalls, a webbing attached to the underedges of said frame walls, meansfor supporting said webbing, comprising a member made of a singleelongated piece of wire and having parallel portions contacting theunderside of said webbing, and a portion interconnecting said parallelportions and contacting the underside of said webbing, said parallelportions having olfsets adjacent said interconnecting portion extendingthrough the webbing, springs interconnecting said offsets with the upperedge of a wall of said frame, brackets on the opposite wall of saidframe, the outer end of each of said parallel portions being attached toone of said brackets.

10. In upholstery construction, a seat frame, a webbing attached to theunderedge of said frame, means for supporting said webbing comprising athree-sided member contacting the underside of said webbing and having apair of parallel sides, and a third side interconnecting adjacent endsof said parallel sides, said member having portions located adjacent thejunctions of the parallel sides with the third side piercing thewebbing, spring means interconnecting said portions with the upper edgeof a wall of said frame in alinecment with the respective parallel sidesof said three-sided member, and means to attach the free ends of saidparallel sides to an opposite wall of said frame.

ALBERT M. BANK.

